India Clears 104 Projects Worth ₹271 Crore to Boost 6G R&D

The Government of India has approved 104 research projects worth ₹271 crore to accelerate the development of sixth-generation (6G) telecom technology, according to information shared in Parliament.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the projects have been sanctioned under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) to promote research and innovation in next-generation telecom technologies.

The minister stated that the initiative is part of the broader Bharat 6G Mission, which aims to position India among the global leaders in 6G technology by the year 2030. The mission is guided by the Bharat 6G Vision Document, released in March 2023, which outlines India’s roadmap for the research, development, and eventual deployment of 6G networks.

According to Pemmasani, the government has been actively encouraging indigenous innovation and participation from Indian startups, academia, and research institutions as part of the mission. The approved projects focus on strengthening India’s domestic telecom ecosystem and building advanced capabilities required for future communication networks.

“As of February 2026, under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), 104 projects amounting to ₹271 crore have been approved for research and development of 6G technology,” the minister informed the Upper House.

The government has also taken steps to build a robust innovation ecosystem to support next-generation telecom technologies. As part of this effort, 100 5G Use Case Labs have been established in academic institutions across the country. These labs aim to provide students, researchers, and startups with platforms to experiment, test applications, and develop solutions that can be adapted for future 6G networks.

Officials believe that strengthening research infrastructure and encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and startups will help India build strong technical capabilities in advanced telecom technologies.

The initiatives are expected to boost skill development, promote innovation, and prepare India’s digital infrastructure for the transition from 5G to the next generation of wireless communication technologies.